Lower Columbia College
#4 Best Nursing Colleges in Washington- Graduation Rate
- 24% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $40,691 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $7,630 A-
- 55% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,932
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 30.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $30.4 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Best Nursing Colleges in Washington.
Every $1 spent returns $30.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $897,779.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 24% — 58% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $30.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Lower Columbia College
Lower Columbia College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 1,932
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Education, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Lower Columbia College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $7,630 a year after grants and scholarships — 55% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $40,691 ten years after enrolling — 0% above the typical college, against $10,506 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 33% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.99 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of 1,932 students, Lower Columbia College is a solid choice for those interested in practical programs like Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education, and Precision Production. This college caters to individuals looking for a community-focused environment where they can pursue hands-on learning and gain skills relevant to the job market. Its smaller size allows for more personalized attention, which can be a game-changer for students navigating their academic journeys.
After graduation, students from Lower Columbia College can expect to earn an average of $40,691 within ten years. That’s a decent starting point for many, especially when considering the affordability of attending this college. With a net price of $7,630 after financial aid, many students find it easier to manage their finances post-graduation. About 36% of the student body receives Pell Grants, which can further ease the burden on those in need of financial assistance.
The practical bottom line is that Lower Columbia College is a financially accessible option for those looking to start their careers without accumulating excessive debt. With a median debt load of $10,506, many graduates can focus on building their lives rather than being weighed down by student loans. This college tends to attract students who are ready to dive into their studies and take advantage of the hands-on learning opportunities that can lead to tangible job prospects.
Rankings
- #4 Best Nursing Colleges in Washington
- #8 Most Affordable Colleges in Washington
- #20 Best Education Colleges in Washington
- #25 Best Online Colleges in Washington
- #30 Best Colleges in Washington
- #33 Best Community Colleges for Nursing
- #33 Best Master's Programs in Washington
- #33 Best Business Colleges in Washington
Can I Get In?
How selective Lower Columbia College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Lower Columbia College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Lower Columbia College, located in Longview, Washington, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 24%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 94%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,911
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.60
- First-Gen Students
- 47%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lower Columbia College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Lower Columbia College is $6,003, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $7,630. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,078 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,506 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,626
- Out-of-State
- $6,003
- Avg Net Price
- $7,630
- Median Debt
- $10,506
- Pell Grant Rate
- 36%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 13%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $6,078
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $7,069
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $9,483
- Family Income $110K+
- $14,192
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Lower Columbia College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Lower Columbia College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Lower Columbia College report median earnings of $40,691, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $36,296
- 8 Years
- $38,501
- 10 Years
- $40,691
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.26x
- Earning > $25K
- 49%
Earnings Trajectory
How Lower Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Lower Columbia College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Lower Columbia College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $7,630/year ($30,520 total). Graduates earn $40,691 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $928,299 in total earnings — a net gain of $897,779 (30.4× your investment). The median debt is $10,506, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 24% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $30,520
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $928,299
- Net Return
- $897,779
- ROI Multiple
- 30.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $7,630
- Median Debt
- $10,506
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 24%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Lower Columbia College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Lower Columbia College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.84%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $72,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.84%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 13.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 13.6%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $98,095
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $4,777,589
Top Programs
The fields Lower Columbia College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 41%
- Health Professions 35% $83,920 early-career
- Education 9%
- Business & Marketing 7% $28,016 early-career
- Precision Production 2% $41,235 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 2%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 1% $35,271 early-career
- Physical Sciences 1%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Lower Columbia College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Lower Columbia College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Lower Columbia College, located in Longview, Washington, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 24%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lower Columbia College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Lower Columbia College is $6,003, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $7,630. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,078 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,506 in federal student loans.
Is Lower Columbia College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Lower Columbia College report median earnings of $40,691, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Lower Columbia College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Lower Columbia College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.84%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $72,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Lower Columbia College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Lower Columbia College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.99, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.05). Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Lower Columbia College.
- Marion Technical CollegeMarion, OH · Close peer28% grad $41,495 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Central Ohio Technical CollegeNewark, OH · Close peer27% grad $39,168 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Maine at Presque IslePresque Isle, ME · Close peer45% grad $40,956 earn 100% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- University of the Virgin IslandsCharlotte Amalie, VI · Close peer28% grad $38,681 earn 99% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Hawaii Maui CollegeKahului, HI · Close peer28% grad $34,453 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- Great Basin CollegeElko, NV · Close peer46% grad $39,289 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Lower Columbia College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Lower Columbia College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.99, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.05). Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note